Victor H. Schiro

Victor Hugo Schiro (6 May 1904-29 August 1992) was Mayor of New Orleans (D) from 17 July 1961 to 2 May 1970, succeeding deLesseps Story Morrison and preceding Moon Landrieu.

Biography
Victor Hugo Schiro was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1904 to a family of Arbereshe Albanian descent. He spent his childhood in New Orleans, Honduras, and California, working as a Nevada gold mine manager and a movie extra before returning to New Orleans. In 1928, Schiro became a radio announcer, and he founded his own insurance company. In 1950, Schiro was elected Commissioner of Public Buildings and Parks, and he served as an at-large councilman until the City Council elected Schiro to be the new mayor on deLesseps Story Morrison's 1961 resignation. Schiro was an avowed segregationist, and he shut down the public swimming pools rather than desegregate them. Schiro would also begin plans to build the Superdrome to house the New Orleans Saints, a football team that was moving into the city. After serving two terms as mayor, he returned to his insurance business, and he died in 1992 at the age of 88.